Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-22
Interstate Commerce Problems,

The more the interstate commerce law
is studied The more clearly 1T becomes
apparent that the commission will have
some very difficult questions to settle.
shippers are beginning TO ask questions
which show that as soon as the law goes
into operation trouble will begin, and it
wi u be the kind of trouble that cannot
be got rid Of Immediately.
One OF the ablest of the railroad mana.
gers in the South a day or two ago said
that he had already ordered a statement
OF all his freight and passenger rates
made out, and that he proposes to file il
with the Commissioners as soon as they
are ready for business. He knows, OF
course, that there are shippers who will
make complaints, and he wants to be in
position TO place whatever responsible
ity that may arise from the doubtful
meaning of the law upon the commits
sion. Railroad men do not understand
some of the most important provisions OF
the law, and the commission will have
difficulty in giving a satisfactory inter-
probation OF them.
The same Southern railroad manager
said that the law will arouse feeling of
hostility between different sections OF the
country. 1t hardly seems possible that it
can have that effect, and yet if it is gwen
an Interpretation that will tend to OBJ.
struct interstate commerce. or to deprive
any section Of the advantages it now en-
joys in getting its products to the sea-
board, 1t is certain that a feeling will
soon make itself apparent that will be
anything but pleasant. 1t is impossible.
however, for even practical railroad men
to say, with any degree OF accuracy,
what the effect of the law will be before
it is known how the commission and the
courts will interpret the really important
parts of it.
There is one evil VIII ch the commission
is certain TO encounter, and which it Will
not find it easy 10 get rid of. 1t is that of
secret rebates, by which one business
firm Is given an advantage over another.
There are doubtless railroad managers
all over the country who can point to
men who have grown wealthy because OF
the favors shown them in the way of re-
duced freight rates. By means OF these
reductions they are able to undersell their
business rivals, and even to force them
out Of business. The law aims to pre-
vent this secret discrimination, but how
is it to be discovered? 1t may be sus-
pected, but it will not be an easy matter
to prove its existence.
Already it Is charged at Washington
that the railroads are trying to secure the
appointment of Commissioners who will
do their bidding. The charge may be
without foundation, but the fact that it is
made shows how very suspicious the
public is. Those who are appointed Com
missioners may expect to have their
public records pretty thoroughly inquired
into, and they need not be surprised if
they find themselves held up before the
J public as men who are ready to
assist the railroads in defeating the
law. The fact that no man who
| owns any stocks or bonds in
railroads, or holds any Official relation
with them, can be a Commissioner,
makes the number from which the Com
mission can be chosen rather small.
There are plenty OF men who are quail
| fed, so far as these conditions are con-
| cerned, but they are not qualified In other
| respects. There is as much interest in
the appointment OF theseInterstate Com.
merce Commissioners as there is in that
Of the successor of Secretary Manning.